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Essex, IL
Full City Profile · Illinois · Grundy County County
4.2
/5.0
A
Great
956
Population
410/sq mi density
$101,094
Median Income
$43,264 per capita
$219,000
Home Value
$281,077 Zillow
$1,147
Median Rent
11.1% income on rent
49°F
Avg Temperature
275 sunny days/yr
A
Overall
4.2 / 5.0
Strong
A+
Economy
5.0 / 5.0
$101,094 median income, 2.3% unemployment
A+
Affordability
5.0 / 5.0
$219,000 home value, $1,147/mo rent
C+
Education
2.7 / 5.0
21.8% bachelor's degree or higher
Essex experiences four distinct seasons with an average annual temperature of 49°F (9°C). Winters average 22°F in January while summers reach 73°F in July. The area gets 275 sunny days per year. Annual precipitation totals 37.7 inches. The area receives 23.3 inches of snow annually. Air quality is rated Good with a median AQI of 43.
Temperature
22°F Jan (-5°C)
73°F Jul (23°C)
| Annual Average | 49.3°F |
| 9% below US avg | |
| January Average | 22°F (-5°C) |
| July Average | 73°F (23°C) |
| Sunny Days | 275 days/yr |
Geography
| Elevation | 590 ft (180 m) |
| Area | 0.9 sq mi (2.4 km²) |
| Population Density | 410/sq mi |
| Coordinates | 41.1831°N, 88.1924°W |
| Timezone | America/Chicago |
| County | Grundy County County |
| Nearest Airport | Joliet Regional (JOT) 23 miles away |
Precipitation & Snow
Air Quality
| AQI Median | 43.0 |
| Rating | Good |
Natural Hazard Risk
| Overall Risk | Relatively Low |
| Risk Score | 66.5 / 100 |
| Social Vulnerability | 10.6 / 100 |
| Community Resilience | 99.5 / 100 |
Hazard Breakdown
| Tornado | Relatively Moderate |
| Hurricane | Very Low |
| Earthquake | Very Low |
| Wildfire | Very Low |
| Flood | Relatively Low |
| Hail | Very Low |
| Strong Wind | Relatively Moderate |
| Heat Wave | Relatively Low |
| Winter Weather | Relatively Low |
| Lightning | Very Low |
| Ice Storm | Very Low |
| Drought | Relatively Low |
| Cold Wave | Relatively High |
| Landslide | Very Low |
Source: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (Dec 2025)
Tsunami History
1 tsunami recorded within 500 km. Highest wave on record: 3.0 m (10 ft).
| Year | Location | Cause | Max Wave | Deaths | Distance |
| 1954 | MICHIGAN CITY, IN (LAKE MICHIGAN) | Avalanche | 3.0 m | 7 | 123 km |
Source: NOAA/NCEI Historical Tsunami Database. Sorted by wave height.
Monthly Weather
| Month | Avg Temperature | Precipitation | Summary |
|---|---|---|---|
| January | 22°F (-5°C) | 1.5 in | Coldest |
| February | 28°F (-2°C) | 1.4 in | Driest |
| March | 39°F (4°C) | 2.8 in | |
| April | 50°F (10°C) | 3.7 in | |
| May | 61°F (16°C) | 3.9 in | |
| June | 70°F (21°C) | 4.0 in | Wettest |
| July | 73°F (23°C) | 3.9 in | Warmest |
| August | 72°F (22°C) | 3.5 in | |
| September | 65°F (18°C) | 3.6 in | |
| October | 54°F (12°C) | 2.6 in | |
| November | 41°F (5°C) | 2.9 in | |
| December | 29°F (-2°C) | 2.5 in |
Essex has a seasonal temperature swing of 51°F / from 22°F in January to 73°F in July. Total annual precipitation is 36.4 inches, with June being the wettest month (4.0") and February the driest (1.4").